State House approves legislation to exempt NBA, NHL tickets from taxes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House approves legislation that would exempt NBA and NHL game tickets from sales taxes in the state.<br/><br/>The state House voted 69-to-30 for that measure and 75-to-24

Tuesday, February 28th 2006, 5:52 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma House approves legislation that would exempt NBA and NHL game tickets from sales taxes in the state.

The state House voted 69-to-30 for that measure and 75-to-24 for legislation that extends a similar sales tax break on tickets for minor league sports teams.

Proponents said Monday that the sales tax break is part of an agreement between legislative leaders and Governor Brad Henry that helped bring the Hornets to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina uprooted the NBA team from their New Orleans home in August.

But opponents like Tulsa state Representative Darrell Gilbert and Oklahoma City state legislator Opio Toure say tax exemptions should be reserved for the poor to help pay for the necessities of life, like food.

Supporters said the NBA and NHL measure could be sent to the governor for his signature as early as next week if the state Senate moves the bill forward.